Bill > HB355

This bill increases the vote threshold for local taxes subject to voter approval from a simple majority (more than 50%) to at least 60% of voters. The bill amends numerous sections of Ohio law related to various types of local taxes and levies, including taxes for county services, transportation, education, emergency services, and other public purposes. Specifically, the bill requires that any voted tax (a tax levy authorized in excess of the ten-mill limitation and subject to voter approval) must be approved by at least 60% of electors, rather than a simple majority. This means that for taxes such as school district income taxes, property tax levies, county sales taxes, and other local tax measures, voters would need to approve the tax with at least 60% of votes in favor, instead of the previous requirement of just over 50%. The higher threshold is intended to make it more difficult to pass local tax measures, potentially providing greater protection for taxpayers by requiring a more substantial level of community support for new or continued taxes. The bill applies this 60% threshold across a wide range of local government and school district tax levies, fundamentally changing the voter approval process for local taxation in Ohio.